First day of Christmas

'Tis the season for Austin's annual Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Strollhosted by John Aielli

If the not-so-winter weather isn’t getting you into the holiday spirit, here’s a fun, (free!) family event that might do the trick. Austin’s annual Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll, hosted by The Downtown Austin Alliance and KUT 90.5, will be taking place this Saturday, December 1, kicking off the 25 days of Christmas with a bang.

This event has been an Austin tradition since 2003, when the Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Capitol joined forces with KUT’s annual Holiday Sing-Along; it now draws in nearly 10,000 people each year.

The fun starts at 6 p.m. as friends, neighbors and strangers gather on the south steps of the Capitol to sing seasonal classics, led by KUT “Eklektikos” host John Aielli.

At around 7 p.m., the countdown to the lighting of the Capitol tree, which stands at an impressive 40 feet tall, begins. This year’s tree will include music and a light show at the top and bottom of every hour, featuring the holiday songs of local Austin musicians.

The night will continue with a Congress Avenue Stroll lit by the 136 trees lining Congress Ave. from Cesar Chavez to 11th St. Shops, restaurants, galleries and museums will stay open late, offering special activities and refreshments to those passing by.

The Paramount Theatre will show classic holiday cartoons and the Austin School of Performing Arts will perform as custom animations are projected on surrounding buildings. Of course, Santa will be on call for photos and bits of Christmas wisdom.

In true spirit of the season, visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food or cash donations to the Capitol Christmas tree for the Capital Area Food Bank.

Consider this your holiday warm-up, Austin. The fun is just getting started.

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WFH life

Austin plugs in as 2nd cheapest large U.S. city for remote workers

Photo by Lewis Guapo on Unsplash

Working remotely in Austin is far more affordable than many other U.S. cities.

Austin's thriving telework industry is already known for being among the most prominent in the country, and as it turns out, it's one of the most affordable, too. A recent study by online retailer The Perfect Rug has revealed Austin is the No. 2 cheapest U.S. city center for remote work.

The report ranked the top 10 largest U.S. cities based on population data, the number of coworking spaces and cafes per capita, statewide average internet speeds, average apartment rent prices, and more.

Austin falls second to the far west Texas city of El Paso (No. 1), and is followed by Houston in the No. 3 spot.

When it comes to finding the best place to work remotely, Austin has an abundance of options including coffee shops, coworking spaces, and local library branches. According to the report's data, there are about six coworking spaces and 26 cafes per capita in the city, but Austinites know best that there is a much wider variety of places to work from "home" than whatever number a study determines.

The average internet speed in Texas is 425.9 mbps (megabits per second), which is the fourth-highest internet speed out of the six total states (and the District of Columbia) mentioned in the study. Pennsylvania, Washington, and Washington, D.C. all have faster average internet speeds, at 430.8, 451, and 473.8 mpbs, respectively.

The Perfect Rug also calculated the average costs for meals, coffee, and monthly rent in Austin:

$1,467 per month – Average apartment rent cost in central Austin
$21 per hour – Average cost for a desk at a coworking space
$16.99 – Average cost for a meal
$5.36 – Average cost for a coffee

Furthermore, Austin-based remote workers are technically saving on fuel costs compared to those who have to commute into the city daily for their jobs.

A spokesperson for The Perfect Rug said Texas cities like El Paso, Austin, and Houston are far more popular for "budget-conscious" remote workers partially because rent costs are far lower in comparison to many other U.S. cities.

"On the other hand, cities like Washington, D.C., and Seattle, while more expensive, compensate with faster internet speeds and a higher density of workspaces, which can enhance the remote work experience," the spokesperson said. "Finding the right balance between cost and amenities is key for remote workers seeking both productivity and affordability."

Elsewhere in Texas, San Antonio ranked as the fifth most affordable city for teleworkers, followed by Dallas (No. 7).

The top 10 cheapest U.S. cities for remote workers are:

No. 1 – El Paso, Texas
No. 2 – Austin, Texas
No. 3 – Houston, Texas
No. 4 – Seattle, Washington
No. 5 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 6 – Washington, D.C.
No. 7 – Dallas, Texas
No. 8 – Denver, Colorado
No. 9 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
No. 10 – Nashville, Tennessee

austin reports rankings remote work